Gearing for washing machines



INV ENTEJE W 74 W Y A 2 Sheets-Sheet l TIE- 1' J. H. FEDLER GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed June 1, 1926 Jan 6, 1931.

ATTURNEYE Jan 6, 1931. J. H. FEDLER GEARING FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed June 1, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENIUH m2; HQ W ATTUHNEYE Patented Jan. 6, 1931 UNITE SATES MISSOURI PATENT OFFICE,

JOSEPH H. FEDLER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTs,

T0 MODERN LAUNDRY MACHINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION GEAR-ING FORWASHING MACHINES Application filed Inns 1, 1920. Serial no. 113,061.

This invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly to the driving mechanism therefor.

One of the objects of the invention is in the provision of a washing machine of the type having an agitator member disposed in the bottom of the tub, and means for reciprocating said agitator, comprising a simplified gear and clutch arrangement disposed between the electric motor or power element, and the agitator.

Another object lies in the provision of a,

washing machine of the type utilizing a reciprocating agitator in the bottom thereof, the driving means for said agitator comprising a gear arrangement of simple design. and few parts, whereby smoothness of operation of the driving mechanism is obtained.

Still another object lies in the provision of a washing machine of the type wherein an whereby a smoothly operating machine is obtained with the minimum number of parts. .A still further object lies in the arrange ment and design of the driving mechanism for the agitator of a washing machine, in-

cluding an arrangement of rack and gear mechanism with driving means for said rack, which permits a smoothly operating clutching and unclutching of the driving gear from the rack to control the movement of the agitator.

Other objects will appear in the following specification, taken in connection with the annexed drawings, in which- .Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the washing machine, with a portion thereof broken away for a more detailed disclosure of the operating portion; v 1

described.

' tator.

Fig. 2 is a plan view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; r

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the gear casing, with the cover thereof removed;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of the gear casing and clutch parts, with parts thereof cut away for a more detailed view of the clutch; and

Fig.5 is a sectional view taken on the'line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown in Fig. 1, a general view of the washing machine, the same being of the type wherein a bladed agitator 10 is disposed in the bottom of a stationary tub 11, a frame being provided, made up of the four vertical supports 12, a band 13 at the upper edge of the tub,

and cross braces 14 connecting the lower end of the supports in which are pivoted caster members 15. An auxiliary frame 16 attached to the four supports 12 provides a seat for the stationary tub 11. This frame 16 also provides attachment and supporting portions for. the driving mechanism later to be described. With respect to the bladed agitator 10, th same isdriven by a vertically disposed drive shaft 17, said agitator being attached to said drive shaft at a point above the water level in the tub, as clearly shown at 18 in the drawings. A supporting column 19 for the drive shaft 17 is screw threaded at 20 in the hub portion 21 disposed below the tub, said hub forming a part of the gear casing later to be -As clearly shown in the drawings, the column 19 is hollow and permits rotation therein of the drive shaft 17, the same also providing bearing surface for said drive shaft. The column 19 also is flared outwardly as at 22, atthe lower portion thereof to form a bearing surface for the bladed agitator 10, thereby defining the movement of said agi- Means for driving the agitator through the drive shaft 1'? above described,

" as well as the wringer shaft, is provided in the following mechanism. An electric motor 23 is attached as at the points 24, to a base 25 connected to the frame portion 16 belowthe washing machine tub, by meansof the brackets 26 and 27 which have a singlecontit) nection 28 with the frame 16. The motor in the present instance is merely hung from the frame; means, however, being provided for adjusting the position of the motor, including a rod 29 attached as at 30 to the motor base, said rod projecting through lug 31 attached to the frame 16, and a wing nut 32 being provided, threaded upon the projecting end of rod 29 to fixthe position of the electric motor.

It might be stated at this time that the motor is hung in thismanner to prevent vibra- "tion which in many instances, attends a fixed mounting of the motor.

the drive belt. Belt 33 transmits power from the electric motor to a pulley wheel 34, which is a part of the gear housing and driving mechanism now to be described. This gear casing and driving mechanism is shown in a perspective inFig. 4, and is fashioned'in a -manner to have all the portions thereof entirely enclosed and in a compact and efi'icient operating manner. The gear housing is made up of the lower portion 35 in which most of the operatin parts have their bearings, and

a cover mem er 36 attached thereto by means of the numerous screws 37. The casing 35 is 1. bolted, as at 38, to the frame 16, as well as at the points 39' and 40. The cover or top of the gear casing has the before mentioned portion 21 integrally cast therewith and forming a seat in which the column 19- is screw threaded as at 20.

The. gear casing 35 provides bearing support for the worm gear 41,-the pulley wheel 34 being attached to a projecting end of said worm. Power is transmittedfrom the worm 41 to an adjacent gear 42 which is pinned to a. vertically disposed st'ubshaft 43,

. the gear casing 35 providing suitable bearing supports therefor. A gear 44 attached to the stub shaft 43 meshes with the gear 45, the same being keyed as at 46 to the vertical drive shaft 47 for the wringer mechanism,

.not shown. A tubular casing 48 surrounds a wringer shaft 47a- Fixedly attached to the upper endiof the stub shaft "43 is a crank-arm 49 havin an u the same having aslidable keye An adjusting screw 57 pro]ects through the gear casing 35,

the inner end thereof engaging a lug 57a disposed in a 'deway formed in the outer side of the rac said screw and lug .Jacting not The adjustmentmechanism for controlling the position of the .motor acts merely as. a means for tensioning The teet 54 on the rack 52 engage a gear 55,-

connection 56 withthe lower end of the drive shaft 17 .-for the bladed agitator 10.

thereof,

With. respect to the rack assembly only as a means for guiding the movement of the rack, but also as a'means for controlling the position of the rack with respect to the gear and is adapted, in case of wear, to be screwed inwardly and thereby force the rack into closer engagement with the gear. A lock nut 58 assures positive positioning of the adjusting screw 57.

The above description completes the driving connection between the electric motor and the bladed agitator 10. However, of necessity there must be some means for unclutching the drive shaft from the-driving mechanism when cessation of operation of the bladed agitator is desired during continued activity of the electric motor, this being usually when the wringer mechanism is being operated and the washing operation completed. The clutching mechanism, in the present instance, comprises means for moving the driving gear 55 out of and into engagement with the rack bar 54. This is accomplished, as shown more particularly in Fig.5, by fashioning a clutch collar 59 integrally with the gear 55. Clutch fingers 6O engage the clutch collar upon either side thereof as shown clearly in the drawing, said clutch fingers having a base portion 61 which is enclosed in the gear caslng. "A lever arm 62 is attached, as at 63, to the baseportion 61 of the clutch fingers and is adapted, upon movement, either to engage the gear 55 which is keyed to the drive shaft 17 but capable of being moved longitudinally thereon with the rack bar, or by movementin the opposite direction, to disengage said gear therefrom. The lever 62 has operatively connected thereto, as at 64, the rod 65, which is in turn attached, as at 66, to a crank 67 This crank is adapted to be moved by a manually operable handle member 68 pivotally supported in a bracket 69 upon the supporting frame 13', there being a connecting rod 7 0 betweensaid handle and the crank 67 Obviously, movement of the handle 68 results in engagement or disengagement of comprising the clutch mechanism for th washing machine.

.As for the operation of the washing ma chine, in view of the above description, it is thought obvious that power is transmitted from the electric motor, through the various guideways in the gear casing. Reciprocation of the rack is transmitted to thedriving ar 55 with a consequent similar movement 0 the drive shaft and hence the bladed agitator.

The clutch mechanism has been described, it is thollfiilt, in a manner to make unnecesrther description of the operation 4 sary any 50a in the portion 51,- said portion having its. movement defined by Y the driving gear 55 with the rack, the same therefor, it is apparent that the inner end of said rack is guided at all times in a manner to prevent vibration. Similarly, the more active or toothed end of the rack is guided in a manner to prevent vibration and it is stated 'at this time that this particular and simplemanner of rack and drive assembly results in a quietly operating driving mechanism.

Applicant has placed the bridge 71 across the lower side of the gear casing 35 in a manner to partially block off that portion of the gear casing which carries the toothed arm of i the rack bar from the main portion of the gear casing containing the worm gear, various driving gears andcrank member. By providing this bridge 71, it is unnecessary to completely fill the gear casing with grease and only a limited amount of grease is required in each portion of the gear casing to insure proper lubrication of the moving elements. It is obvious that without this bridge ,71, grease placed in that portion of the gear casing 35 containing the toothed rack bar would gradually flowinto the lower portion of the gear casing, but by placing this bridge in the manner shown in the drawing, there is insured at all times a proper amount of grease adjacent the reciprocating toothed portion of the rack bar.

What I claim is: p Drive mechanism for a washing machine, comprising a shaft, a pinion splined thereto and movable to an operative and'an inoperative position on the shaft,-a rack bar having a toothed end adapted to engage said pinion when the latter is in operative position, a

transverse slot at the other endof said rack bar, a rotary crank having a member slidably mounted in said slot whereby the crank may oscillate the rack bar, a housing, guideways integral with the housing for guiding said slotted end of the rack bar, adjustable means for pressing the toothed end of the rack bar I against the pinion, a collar integral with said pinion, pivotally mounted clutch fingers engaging said collar, and manually operable meansto pivot said clutch fingers to longitudinally move said pinion into operative and inoperative positions on the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto aflixed my signature.

i JOSEPH H. FEDLER. 

